Lightning strikes forecast for Hollister, other inland areas

A National Weather Service Meteorologist based in Monterey issued a lightning strike warning for Hollister and other inland areas of the Central Coast.

Meteorologist Austin Cross said there is a chance of lightning from late Monday evening through Tuesday morning.

"A slight chance of thunderstorms is expected over the East Bay and in the extreme eastern portions of Santa Clara and Monterey Counties, as well as San Benito County," the National Weather Service reported.

Fire crews braced for more erratic winds on Monday from nearby thunderstorms as they tried to gain ground on two wildfires that were threatening nearly homes in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County.

Much of Northern California remained under a red flag warning through Tuesday night, with additional lightning strikes expected.

Crews are anticipating the possibility of more lightning strikes while battling a lightning-sparked wildfire in Mendocino County about 200 miles southwest of the Klamath blazes. The fire near Laytonville had burned through nearly 15 square miles and was threatening nearly 60 structures. Mandatory evacuation orders remained in place.

There have been more than 800 reported lightning strikes across Northern California that led to 34 more confirmed fires since Sunday, state fire spokesman Dennis Mathisen said Monday.

However, those new fires totaled less than 1 square mile, Mathisen added.

"We hope the lightning activity doesn't produce any new larger fires," he said. "Typically, 95 percent of wildfires are caused by human activity, but when they're caused by Mother Nature, there's nothing you can do except to be prepared and try to keep them as small as possible."